She said nothing after ending the call, which gave me room to imagine every possible conclusion. I asked whether the situation looked serious. She answered with the practical caution of a professional who knew a field observation and an enforcement finding were not the same thing.
"It looks like work that requires review, and I don't have a matching permit number. We need to verify the connection, the limits of the easement, and the original approvals before I tell you more. Your photographs help, but we'll make our own record."
Two more county vehicles arrived within the hour. Dan Colby, the division supervisor, introduced himself and asked to see both the older site photographs and Saturday's footage. A county technician examined the visible storm structure while Janet walked the elevations again with Pat's survey on her clipboard. I answered questions when asked and stayed out of their way otherwise.
Brenda arrived while they were still working. She had changed her usual linen blazer for a navy one, perhaps believing it would look more official beside the county trucks. She parked too close to the edge of the grass and marched toward Dan before he had finished speaking to Janet.
"I'm the HOA president," she announced. "This is an approved maintenance project, and that man has been harassing our contractor."
Dan asked for the approval, the contractor's work order, and the engineering basis for the modification. Brenda said the board had approved routine upkeep. He politely explained that a board vote did not replace whatever governmental authorizations were required for changes affecting the approved stormwater system or drainage corridor.
"We didn't need a permit to clean a ditch," she insisted.
"That's what we're determining," he replied. "But the installed pipe and altered overflow route appear to be more than ordinary cleaning. Please provide the documents and let us finish our inspection."
For the first time since I had met her, Brenda looked at a public official who did not automatically accept her definition of the problem. She turned toward me, apparently hoping to provoke an argument. I kept my hands at my sides and let Janet continue measuring.
Dennis Prior arrived next, summoned by Brenda or someone at the company. He stood near his truck with his arms folded and explained that the work was intended to improve drainage. Dan asked who prepared the design and whether the county had received an updated drainage plan. Dennis said the layout followed the existing system and that he had not considered a new design necessary.
Janet looked up from her clipboard. "The existing system in the county record directs the overflow toward the eastern easement outlet. This installation appears to convey it toward private lots. We need to establish why those two routes differ."
Dennis opened his mouth, then shut it again. I could see that he was used to questions about costs and schedules, not questions whose answers could be checked against fifteen-year-old grading plans. He agreed to produce the work order and project documents and remained while county staff finished their observations.